MSFS Banff Airport (CYBA) Alberta, Canada Scenery

Expert Overview

Banff Airport (CYBA) Alberta, Canada Scenery transforms what was previously an emergency-use airfield into a lively flight club environment ideal for exploring the dramatic Canadian Rockies. By restoring CYBA with day/night lighting, ATC communications, and a new refueling area, developer Rory McAlduff has brought back an airfield that had been dormant since the 1990s, all while capturing the charm of Banff National Park with dynamic tree variations and optional static wildlife.

Version 2.0 introduces the picturesque Cascade Pond, enhanced ground textures, and a helipad for more diverse operations. As someone who has navigated many virtual cockpits through the years, I appreciate how this add-on seamlessly blends scenery details—like detailed parking and fencing—into an immersive, scenic approach for MSFS 2020. It’s a joy for VFR flyers wanting a low-level tour of the Rockies and a must-have for anyone looking to broaden their Canadian airport collection.

This mod was installed, tested and reviewed by Adam McEnroe for Fly Away Simulation. Adam is an FS mod expert. Read his bio here.

A rendition of Banff Airport (CYBA) Alberta, Canada bringing the airport to active use in Microsoft Flight Simulator (MSFS) 2020 release.

The airport is listed as emergency use only in the real-world making it non-accessible in the sim.

This add-on by developer Rory McAlduff makes the airport functional within the sim and they have also brought it up to date adding new features and changes to the airport.

Banff CYBA is now version 2.0 which includes Cascade Pond and an optional static animal set.

This re-enables the Banff National Park airfield (CYBA) which is officially listed as emergency use only so is unfortunately unavailable in MSFS as a functional airfield by default.

I have returned the area into a flying club back before it got shut down in the 1990s

This area currently includes

• Day/Night lighting
• Increased the variation in trees, (there are more leafy trees than people realize in the mountains. Microsoft seems to think its all pine)
• Static scenery/wildlife
• Wildlife fencing along the highways, telephone/power poles, cut lines.
• Detailed area for the cascade hiking area parking lot and cascade pond
• Runway or ramp start options and a helipad for future use
• Refueling area
• ATC with local comms

Installation

Add the following to your MSFS "community" folder.

There are two folders provided...

1. CYBA Banff Airport and Area This is mandatory and has all of the scenery.
2. CYBA Banff Animals set This has a bunch of Banff's famous wildlife, but currently they are static. It does not need to be used if you do not want animals in your scenery.

The placement of animals is static for now but It is a representation of what I have driven past in this area and have seen happening. Not every day, but if you are gonna fly by, might as well have something to look at.

Feedback is welcome.

Developer: Rory McAlduff.

Currently, the developer does not publish a public donation page. If this changes we will add it here.